A sample lodge itinerary that emphasizes fishing, and includes bear viewing and spa opportunities
View each day:
Day One
You will be met at your hotel for complimentary transfer service to our air carrier at Lake Hood. Depart Anchorage at 9:00 a.m. (Departure time is flexible) for a scenic float-plane flight to Winterlake Lodge. You will depart from Lake Hood, the world’s largest floatplane lake and land on Finger Lake, the location of an Iditarod checkpoint. Winterlake is situated approximately one hour by air northwest of Anchorage. There are opportunities to see Mount McKinley enroute.
Check in to your cabin and join your hosts Kirsten and Carl Dixon at the main Lodge for a brief orientation to the activities and facilities at the lodge, then plan your days with your guides. Options include:
- Hike the Iditarod Trail
- Canoe or kayak around Winterlake
- Extended hike to Red Lake
- Fish for arctic grayling
- Schedule your massage
- Take a hot tub
- Join in the stretch and yoga classes
- Cooking class in the kitchen
Luncheon is served at 1:00 p.m. in the main room. After lunch, take a tour of neighboring waters via helicopter and possibly some fishing in a neighboring stream. At the lodge, join us for a stretch class, dog-lot tour, garden tour, or leisurely walk along the Iditarod Trail. In the late afternoon, we offer a cooking class in the kitchen with Kirsten, wine tasting in the main lodge bar area, and dinner at 7:00 p.m. After dinner, there is an evening education program on Alaska in the wellness room or fly-casting lessons on the lake.
Day Two
Early morning gentle yoga class at 7:00 a.m. (optional, of course). Breakfast is served at 8:00 a.m. After breakfast, meet your helicopter pilot and guide for a day-long adventure outing via our Robinson R-44 helicopter to Canyon Creek for King salmon fishing. In the afternoon, you may enjoy lunch on the river or back at the lodge – your choice. End your day of adventure with a nice soak in the hot tub and a dip in the lake!
Day Three
If you are an earlier riser you can take advantage of the early morning serenity by observing our resident Swans and Loons on Winterlake by Kayak. Breakfast is served at 8am. At 9am, board your floatplane for a scenic flight to Redoubt Bay Lodge, our sister lodge, for bear-viewing and lake fishing. At Redoubt Bay Lodge, the options are:
- View bears in their natural habitat fishing for salmon
- Sport fishing for salmon
- Kayak the lake
- Take a natural history tour of the area and explore our magic carpet bog!
Check in to your rustic log cabin. Enjoy a gourmet lunch at the lodge served at 1pm – homemade snacks are available at all times. Dinner is served in the main lodge at 7:00 p.m. early evening activities are available.
Day Four
After breakfast, return to Anchorage arriving at 10:00 a.m.